“The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they gave no heed. Therefore the LORD brought against them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh captive in manacles, bound him with fetters, and brought him to Babylon. While he was in distress he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. He prayed to him, and God received his entreaty, heard his plea, and restored him again to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD indeed was God. … He took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house of the LORD and in Jerusalem, and he threw them out of the city. He also restored the altar of the LORD and offered on it sacrifices of well-being and of thanksgiving; and he commanded Judah to serve the LORD the God of Israel. The people, however, still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God. 2 Chronicles 33:10-13, 15-17.

When my thoughts and actions are against God, am I prepared to be placed in manacles and fetters? Am I willing to admit that it’s what I think and do that binds not only my hands and feet but my spirit as well? Will I pay attention, give heed, and submit myself to God? Confess and turn away from those sins and to God? Will I indeed know that the LORD is God? Will I remove the idols from my life, quit attempting to push the boundaries of righteousness to fit my definitions instead of living within those God establishes? As yourself the same questions for yourself and let’s both ask then for the Body of Christ in our local congregations? Will we follow God or would we make God into something that He isn’t?